[Aaron Draper Shattuck] 1860s

This portrait of Aaron Draper Shattuck was created by George Gardner Rockwood in the late nineteenth century, using the albumen print process. This technique, popular at the time, involved coating paper with a layer of egg white and silver nitrate, creating a surface sensitive to light. The albumen print’s unique materiality influenced its reception. The smooth, glossy surface rendered fine details with clarity, as you can see in Shattuck's beard and clothing. These visual qualities satisfied the growing middle class’ desire for realistic, affordable portraiture. The production of albumen prints involved a division of labor, with specialized workers handling each stage, from preparing the paper to printing and toning the final image. This industrialization of photography democratized the medium, making it accessible to a wider audience, and changing forever the tradition of painted portraiture. Looking at this photograph reminds us that even seemingly straightforward images are products of complex processes and social contexts. Appreciating the materiality and means of production expands our understanding, and challenges the conventional categories of art history.